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What Did We Do Before the Photocopier?

When Chester Carlson invented the photocopier machine in 1937, he probably didn’t realise the effect he would have on the office machinery landscape. You could say that his invention kick started the office automation business by proving that many laborious tasks can be handed over to machine.

As with all inventions of its type though, it took a while for them to be accepted and it was a decade before they became commonplace in offices throughout the US. It took even longer for them to make their way to the UK where we have sometimes lagged behind our colonial friends when it comes to accepting new methods and ways of working. Considering we were the birthplace of the industrial revolution, it seems odd that we should be so adverse to taking on new ideas these days.

However, they’re now popular almost worldwide (certainly all Western countries and the East) and they are almost essential in today’s office. But what did we do before them? Well, the most common method of duplicating any kind of work was by using carbon copy paper. This was an extremely efficient and effective way of getting an exact copy of the document you were currently working on, but only one copy. You could try multiple pieces of carbon paper but eventually the thickness made it impossible for the pressure of the hammer to get through to the bottom. It was quite common to see three or four times copied documents that were unreadable.

So many places (including educational establishments like schools and colleges) took to using lithograph duplicators. If you were at school in the 70s and 80s you may remember the smell from these machines that seemed capable of only creating copies in a feint purple colour. They were bulky machines that were operated by hand and if you’d been playing around in class one day – it was probably you that had to do it.

The problem with them was – it wasn’t an instant copy. You first had to make a ‘plate’ which was the master from which all other copies were made. This wasn’t a difficult task, but it also wasn’t a doddle and meant a plate had to be made for each page. So, when photocopiers came along, they were seen as the ultimate in convenience, but there was one big problem with them – they were expensive.

But one thing’s for sure – things that are useful don’t stay expensive for long and the laws of supply and demand soon made it economic for everyone to get one. This was simply down to the fact that during the ‘desk top publishing’ boom of the 80s and 90s, many people wanted high quality printers and that meant laser printers. As the innards of a photocopier was essentially a laser printer, the two technologies could be developed together and so the cost of them came down drastically.

However, when scanners became popular, they started to be attached to printers themselves and so suddenly ink jet printers were able to copy. Why scan and print when you could simply copy with one press of the button? Photocopiers are now incredibly popular in all offices and also very cheap to run. Luckily we’ve embraced technology and the office has become and easier place to work.

Alan is leading up the online marketing for The Office Supplies Supermarket and the ten sub-brands that make up this formidable force in the online office world. They offer a wide range of products for the modern office together with masses of help and assistance to those looking to find the best possible supplies for their business. For a massive range of office products you should check out their main website which contains the details of over 50,000 items together with an extensive FAQ section so you are never lost or misinformed.

Of note is their office machines website which has everything from office photocopiers through to the latest in overhead projectors, stopping off with a wide range of calculators and other useful equipment.

The Photocopier Repair Man

Last year, while working in a certain place in the UK, the lady on the reception desk where I worked was a real country girl. One of her lovely ways of letting a colleague know a repairman was here was something like (made up name to protect the innocent) “Jane, there’s a little man here to see you”. Absolutely brilliant and she just couldn’t see the irony, when the guy was maybe six foot and two hundred pounds in weight.

Anyway, I remember this because the repairman who came to service this and the printers was a truly big man. But the point of this article isn’t about a man and his dog, it is about photocopiers and printers.

Totally innocuous machines, sitting forlornly on a desk or filing cabinet in the corner of the office or stationery cupboard humming away and contributing to global warming, never given a second thought until Oh no paper jam, toner leak or non communication on the network… or worse.

It is at this point in time that due deference is given to how much work these machines actually churn out, while making a frantic call to the photocopier man, promising coffee and biscuits if he can get here in the next half hour.

What did we do before photocopiers and printers? Well, “photocopying” and “printing” was by means of a duplicating machine, smaller versions powered by a hand crank, (I recall my head teacher churning out page after page of scripts for the school plays we all had to endure and act in) and the larger versions powered by a small electric motor.

Originating from what is known as the second phase of the industrial revolution; these machines kick started the major changes in clerical and administration work practices, paving the way for a recognizable early version of what was to eventually become the modern office environment.

Typewriters, duplicating machines and the telephone changed the way office work was carried out, and the ability to mass produce cheaply in the office what once cost a lot of money by printers using a press, could now literally be created for the cost of a “dime a dozen”.

So although the photocopier and printer is a reasonably modern invention, the ability to mass produce from duplicating and typewriting has been around for over a century. Whichever way you look at it, the photocopier man has been, and will be, around a long time.

An Historical Look at the Photocopier

The photocopier has become an essential piece of kit for any office environment, being used for a multitude of copying tasks. Without the photocopier, many office workers would have very sore hands from copying or typing out data; it is arguably one of the most important items required to make an office function smoothly.

The man who invented the photocopier was called Chester Carlson who worked as a patent attorney, along with being a part-time inventor and researcher. As he worked in the patent office in New York he had to make a great deal of copies of important patent documents – but as a sufferer of arthritis, he found the process an extremely boring and indeed painful process. With this pain in mind, he began conducting experiments with photoconductivity in his kitchen. In 1938 he applied for a patent for the process. The very first copy of the very first photocopier came about using a zinc plate covered with sulfur. This famous copy bore the words “10-22-38 Astoria”.

Carlson tried to sell his invention to more than 20 companies, but it was regarded as being under-developed. Further to this, carbon paper was the chosen method of copying, which in the minds of many people, was sufficient; an electronic photocopier did not seem necessary at all. Even big names such as General Electric and IBM numbered among the firms he went to between 1939-1944.

Carlson was contracted to refine the process in 1944 for five years by Battelle Memorial Institute (a non profit organization). In 1947, the Haloid Corporation approached Battelle to obtain a license to develop and market a related photocopier machine. In time, and after consulting someone who knew about Greek language, they settled on the term ‘xerography’ which was derived from “dry writing” in Greek. These new photocopiers were called Xerox machines, and eventually the word Xerox was copywrited.

The use of the photocopier became known colloquially as ‘xeroxing’ because this brand of copiers became so popular. While Xeroxing is to some extent still synonymous with copying, in most instances the corporation asks that such references or listings are removed, as it does not want the word Xerox used in this way.

Other brands have also come to the fore since then, with names like the Salvin Corporation and Kodak leading the pack. These firms now provide photocopier technology to businesses and educational establishments of all kinds, all around the world.

Gino Hitshopi is highly experienced in the realm of photocopier technology, having worked in related industries for many years. For more information please visit: http://www.bts-ltd.co.uk/

“How do I save money on printing?” That’s the question I hear most frequently and in today’s difficult economic climate, it’s an extremely important one. With the cost of a typical black and white page averaging 2 – 5 cents and a color page averaging 7 – 20 cents for paper and toner or ink, implementing the tips below will have your savings add up quickly. A few simple adjustments to how and when you print can result in bigger savings for your business and even your home printing.

Proof your work to cut down on printing unnecessary pages. A great deal of toner, ink and paper is wasted printing pages you can’t use. Always run a spelling and grammar check to correct any mistakes you might have made before you print. These are easy to use tools located on the toolbar at the top of your screen that does the work for you. You retain control over your content while the software makes suggestions for change. It’s like having your own personal proofreader but without the added expense.

Using the print preview feature lets you see how a document will look on paper before you print it. Here’s how:

1) Select File.

2) Click Print Preview to view your document.

3) Hit ESC to return to the normal view.

Are you using Microsoft 2010? BONUS! Microsoft 2010 applications allow you to preview your document in the print screen without any additional keystrokes!

Have you ever printed an email or driving directions on letterhead or your best cardstock? It’s an annoying and costly mistake. Make sure you have the right paper in your printer before you hit print. Most printers have at least one paper tray and a second tray or feed slot. Load the paper you use most often into the largest capacity tray on your printer or MFP. Then use the additional tray for letterhead or any special media you require.

Lastly, when you print multi-page documents and realize you made a mistake, don’t reprint the entire document. Just reprint the page where you make your correction and insert it into the document in the proper order.

The typical office worker uses about 10,000 sheets of paper every year at a cost ranging from $200 to $2000 per year for paper and toner or ink. Reducing print by just 10% can yield big savings, not to mention leaving us many more trees to enjoy. Savings… Simple, easy and at right your fingertips.

Richard Hermann is owner and CEO of TC Technologies, Inc. The company is dedicated to delivering Smart Office Document Solutions for their clients. This includes cost containment, cost reduction and business process enhancements to improve the production and use of documents both hardcopy and electronically. For more information please visit http://www.tctechnologies-inc.com.

Commercial Label Printer

Commercial label printing requires a high level of expertise and of course the right equipment to execute properly. The fact is that most manufacturers are looking for printing companies which can handle their bulk orders for the commercial purposes. When choosing the best printer to handle the project, a few considerations can help you choose the best.

Label variety: the more the label options the printer has for you, the better it will be for your products since you will have the most suitable for each. Commercial products have different needs and among the most common labels that you will find include opaque and clear film, die cut, in mold, cut and stack, pressure sensitive, vinyl, waterproof and roll fed labels. Others that you will find are laminated labels, foil stamped, peel and stick and static cling commercial labels among others.

Label functionality: the printer should provide you with the label that is most suitable and whose functionality will favor or add value to you products. The label printed should serve its expected functionality perfectly from the word go.

The production consistency: a good printer understands the important of keeping the labels impressive to create that lasting brand among the consumers. It means therefore that it should be in a position to offer you consistency in the production and printing of the labels thus helping you stay afloat in the market.

The pricing: everybody is indeed looking for the best value and quality at a price that is affordable. The same should be the case with your commercial label printer and should offer competitive pricing for the printing project that you have without compromising on the quality of the end product. A small shift in the production price can make a huge difference and you need to keep all your company finances in check.

The turnaround: the fact that you require bulk commercial labels should not be a hindrance for the printer to avail them within the shortest time possible. The general turnaround time for the project should be reasonable to ensure that you also meet with the product deadlines. A company with the right printing equipment and qualified experienced printing professionals will always mange to keep up with any deadlines thus offering turnarounds which are most convenient. This is an aspect that is most important for any manufacturer and should therefore be carefully considered when choosing the best printer for the project.

What You Can Expect to Pay for a Decent Quality 3D Printer?

If you are considering the purchase of a 3D printer, the first question that comes to mind is “what do they cost?” As you might imagine, the costs will vary greatly depending upon the intended purpose, the technology employed, and the materials being used.

For a descent quality 3D printer for home use you can expect to pay anywhere from $1000 to $1600. This may at first seem to be somewhat expensive, but when you consider that a nice Mac book will cost between $1000 and $1500, and a powerful multimedia PC will cost at least as much, the price really isn’t all that bad. Manufacturers such as 3D Systems, Afina, Rapman, and Flash Forge all have good models in this range. The next level of home 3D printers with a higher level of quality, accuracy, and size will run you anywhere from $1200 to $4000. 3D Systems has printers in this range as do MakerBot, Fabbster, Airwolf and a few others.

The home hobbyist who might be willing to assemble his own machine can purchase models in the $500 to $1000 range. There are several manufactures coming out with even lower priced models. Hong Kong company Makible is scheduled to be coming out with 3D printers priced at $200, $300 and $350. US company PrintrBot has a number of DIY kits from $299 to $699. Other lower priced kit manufacturers include Pirate 3D, MixShop, Sumpod, Solidoodle and Portabee. Keep in mind that most manufacturers of home and hobbyist 3D printers will offer versions of one particular machines in both DIY models as well as fully assembled models, the latter costing a $100 to $200 more than the DIY version. If you are interested in learning the technology behind the machines, want to be able to fix your own machines, and have the technical and mechanical abilities, a DIY kit would be the way to go. If all of that is beyond you and you simply want to get down to business, spent the few hundred extra and save yourself the time and the headaches.

Industrial grade 3D printers for prototyping parts for jet engines for example, can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars. Solidscape and Stratasys have printers to create highly detailed and sophisticated dental appliances and jewelry priced at the lower end of this range. GE and Ford will have machines costing much more.

A number of considerations will affect the price of the right 3D printer for you. It really depends on your reason for investing in a 3D printer. Some of the attributes to consider are: Print Speed; Part Cost (which will be a function of materials used and time and energy used in production); Feature Detail Resolution (the quality of the finish); Accuracy (car parts for instance need to be very precise); Material Properties; and Color. Many printers may only be able to use “plastic” materials such as ABS or PLA. Others can utilize metallic powders and other exotic materials.

Different applications have unique needs and understanding those application requirements is critical when choosing a 3D printer. Commercial users may find that multiple systems may offer broader use opportunities than a single system. Identifying your unique requirements to apply 3D printing across your entire design-to-manufacture process can shorten time-to-market, improve product performance, streamline and cost-reduce manufacturing, and improve product quality. Home users and hobbyists on the other hand will be quite happy with the simplest of printers.

Kirk Albride is a writer who specializes in science and technology. You can check out one of his latest websites at 3D Printers Prices where he provides the basic info you need to make an educated purchase, including info on basic 3D printer info, printer kits, and the best printers for home use.

Multi-Function Printers Create More Space and Cut Costs in Small Offices

Using the mobile phone or the TV for email, internet access, downloading music or films is a major talking point among makers of consumer communication products and is called convergence.

It is not only in telecommunications that convergence is a hot topic, however. The printer and copier industry also sees opportunities for convergence – that is combining several functions in one piece of equipment such as Multi-Function Printers (MFPs).

As printing technology has become more sophisticated and networkable, and with digital printing quality improving, it is now possible to create documents including their design and layout to be print-ready on a computer then send them electronically direct to a printer/copier to be turned into a hard copy.

Combining printing, copying, faxing, scanning and digital sending using a networked MFP rather than several pieces of stand-alone equipment can improve office efficiency for handling both digital and paper documents.
For the home and small business user these multi-function machines can be particularly useful, allowing for fewer pieces of equipment to save on space and cost while enabling the user to produce professional-looking documents in colour or black and white quickly and easily.

There are three main levels of sophistication with MFPs. For the home user there are all-in-ones devices (AIO) which are not usually networked but are small desktop machines and concentrate on printing and scanning, but often with additional features most likely to be important for the home, such as bundled software for organising photos and for photocopying documents.

SOHO – for Small Office/Home Office use – are slightly larger desktop or small freestanding units and have basic Print, Copy, Scan and Fax functionality with some of the more sophisticated models also having simple document storage and retrieval, and basic authentication functions.

The full MFI units are mid-sized freestanding unit, designed to be used as a central office system. They tend to focus on the printing aspect such as high speed, high quality output, and highly advanced finishing (including book creation with cover insertion and may not have all of the advanced network functionality of some of the smaller machines.

If considering adding a MFI to an existing office set-up it is important to ensure that the software that comes with the unit is compatible with existing software. Different sellers have different licensing models, that range between completely “closed” proprietary systems (which can involve large costs) to open strategies with no direct cost involved. Some will be able to supply a software development kit to allow users to integrate communication between existing office software and the MFP. Your local printer and copier supplier should be able to advise you.

However, with all these machines, effective technical support to deal with problems is more important than it was with the previous generation of stand-alone printers.

Historically, the printer/copier would be sold as part of a computer package at zero profit or even at a discount. However, there was little or no back-up if there were problems with the printer and it usually meant that the owner found themselves dealing with a lengthy and cumbersome process of packaging and returning the machine to the manufacturer to get it fixed.

One American supplier has described printer maintenance as essentially a “customer care free zone” where there has historically been either no service support or a low cost low response or back to base outsourced maintenance.

For users of an integrated multi-function printer/copier/scanner this is unlikely to be an acceptable situation.

Copyright (c) 2011 Alison Withers

Convergence is not only the hot topic in consumer communications products, it also applies to printers and copiers. Writer Ali Withers finds out about MFPs, Multi-Function Printers, from Firstcopy, Cambridge, suppliers throughout East Anglia.

Take Printer and MFP Security Seriously

Is your imaging and printing environment protected? Security threats through connected printers and MFPs are becoming an increased concern to businesses and home computer users alike. The threats of losing critical business information and revenue, identity theft along with fines and litigation resulting from security breaches are huge. Recent reports of Dell and Samsung printer security issues and that a Google search revealed over 86,600 HP printers using Jetdirect that were publicly accessible, many at well known companies and institutions, underscores the problem.

There are a variety of security gaps that exist with printers and MFPs. Once understood they are easily addressed. Many of these vulnerabilities seem quite obvious and others may have never crossed your mind. The following is a list of typical vulnerability points:

The Output Tray – This is the most common point of concern. Documents sitting on the output tray can be seen by anyone by simply walking up to the device. Do they contain confidential information? Can they be picked up by anyone?

The Control Panel – MFPs are powerful devices that print, copy, scan and often fax. It’s important to have visibility to the device and to control access to prevent abuse.

The Hard Disk – Many printers and most every MFP today contains a hard disk capable of storing files. When a printer or MFP is removed from service, sent out for repair or returned at the end of a lease, important and sensitive information could be leaving your business.

The Network – It’s easy to intercept printed or scanned jobs as they travel over the network. Give particular thought to your wireless networks whether at the office or at home. Are they secured, locked down and encrypted?

The Input Tray – Special media is often used when printing. Do you keep checks, official documents and forms like prescriptions secure and under control?

Actively assessing and managing security across a print environment takes time and consideration. By assessing your fleet, security measures can be implemented that greatly reduce the chances of a breach. Many means to greater security are already embedded in the print device and merely need to be enabled. Here are some suggestions to close your imaging and printing security gaps:

Authentication & Pull Printing – Keep hard copies out of the wrong hands with employee authentication by assigning PIN (personal identification number) printing, smart cards, proximity badges and even fingerprint scanning. These technologies verify the employee and only allow hard copy to be printed when the employee is present at the printer.

Control Access and Feature Use – When you verify and authenticate device users, you can control who has access to settings and also who can fax, print in color, scan and use of other features. This type of control not only can secure your information but also will help to control print costs.

Secure Printer and MFP Hard Disks – Use the built-in encryption features when storing data on the hard drive of your device. Also use the erase feature to systematically erase specific files or the entire hard disk. This is especially important before removing the device from service, when trading it in or at the end of the lease.

Protect Data on the Network – Be sure to encrypt all printing or scans sent over the network. Current encryption solutions can make it nearly impossible to read your data if it is intercepted. Pay special attention to wireless access to your network as these are often the weakest and least secure points.

Paper and Media Security – If you use specialized paper and media such as checks and printing official documents, consider controlling the media in the paper trays. Many devices have optional locking paper trays to prevent tampering or theft. MICR encoding toner is often used on checks and other sensitive documents to secure the content of documents and prevent tampering or alteration.

By managing and monitoring your entire fleet of printing and imaging devices you can greatly reduce common security risks. Many managed print service providers include security assessment and help manage the risks in your print fleet through active monitoring of the device’s usage and configurations.They also deliver firmware updates for the print fleet which not only will enhance performance of the devices but help keep them up to date on security threats.

Sensitive data has become ever more prevalent on our networks. By not overlooking the printing and imaging devices on the network, a great number of the common security loopholes will be remedied and the high costs of information loss and business disruption avoided.

Richard Hermann is owner and CEO of TC Technologies, Inc. The company is dedicated to delivering Smart Office Document Solutions for our clients. This includes cost containment, cost reduction and business process enhancements to improve the production and use of documents both hardcopy and electronically. For more information please visit http://www.tctechnologies-inc.com.

Canon Ink Cartridges Review – A Look at Canon Printers and Technology

Canon is one of the most recognizable names in the printing industry. For decades, the company has been manufacturing printers, cameras, ink, toners, quality paper, and more. If you own any type of printer from this company, you need some quality Canon ink cartridges. Not only does this ink produce superior printouts, it’s also easy to replace.

If you don’t yet have a Canon printer, you need to consider getting one – especially if you plan on printing out photographs. Since this brand is the leader of photography products, it makes sense that they offer ink that can print out photos in amazing clarity.

Canon Ink and Printing Options

There are a few different options to choose from: regular ink, professional ink, and black ink. There are also toner cartridges to consider if you have a laser printer. The inks are primarily pigment based. This means you can expect professional quality prints. Genuine Canon cartridges feature Full Photolithographic Inkjet Nozzle Engineering FINE) technology for detail and sharpness. The ink actually “dyes” the text or photo on the paper to ensure quick drying. If you have to print out many photos or documents, the quick drying process will save you time.

As with all ink and toner cartridges, you will need a specific model number that is compatible with your printer. Depending on the type of printer you have, you might need more than one cartridge. Some printers are compatible with all-in-one units, and some require that each color be individually replaced.

Examples of Canon Ink Cartridges

If you have an inkjet photo printer, you’ll need cartridges such as the 4530B001AA pigment black ink, 4548B001AA magenta ink, and 4550B001AA gray ink in order to produce true to lifephotos. Keep in mind that gray ink isn’t something that is usually sold individually – especially for photo printers. You will want to use this cartridge if it’s compatible with your model.

Sometimes you can find deals on cartridge multipacks. The genuine CLI-8 cartridge multipack (0621B016), for instance, is a pack of every color you need for printing photographs and documents both. This one multipack comes with yellow, cyan, and magenta cartridges. There are dozens of compatible printers, including the IP and Pro 9000 models.

Buying Genuine Canon Ink

Since there are scams out there, you need to make sure that the Canon ink cartridges you order are genuine and not fraudulent. Now, remanufactured ink cartridges might be okay, just as long as you order from a legitimate seller that has established a positive reputation. Legitimate sellers are upfront about the fact that their ink is remanufactured. Usually, the quality is excellent, and the prices are inexpensive.

If you are trying to run a business, the quality of your printouts is an essential factor. Cheap looking printouts will make your company look bad. Even if you just want to print out pictures for personal use, you owe it to your loved ones to produce quality printouts. The images should have fine details. The colors should contrast flawlessly. Text should be nice and clear. Canon is one of the few brands that can guarantee quality printouts.

Don’t let the price concern you – there are usually some good deals available online. Also, remanufactured Canon ink cartridges might be a good choice, just as long as you order it from a reputable company.

You will find Canon ink cartridges and other printing products at 123Inkjets. This is the number one source of ink and toner cartridges. You will find Canon ink at discount prices. You can also expect secure transactions and fast shipping and handling.

Recently I was working with a client in Owings Mills Maryland who was purchasing a new Toshiba copier.

Like many of my repeat and new customers one of his major considerations was whether he really needed to upgrade to a color copier or would the black copier be OK for his needs.

One of the first questions I ask in this situation is “how are you handling color copies and prints now?”. Typically my clients are doing one of two things: 1) they outsource their color printing to Staples, Office Depot or a local printer or 2) they print them out on a desktop color printer.

Once I have established what they are doing now my next questions is “how many color copies or prints are you doing per month and year?” Many times my customers don’t really know their true volume so we have to do a little investigative work.

One helpful strategy is listing out on a piece of paper all the different types of color copies and prints they do throughout a year and then listing beside each project the approximate number they do for that project per month and year.

I think it’s important to look at this annually because many times there are printing projects that are only done once or twice a year and the customer tends to forget about those projects if we are only thinking in a monthly context.

In the case of this customer once we listed out all of his annual color printing needs he only did about 500 color prints per year. I consider this a very low color volume.

I advised him that this didn’t justify purchasing a color machine and he should continue to send those jobs out to a printer.

I did also find out that he was sending his jobs mostly to Office Depot. OUCH!! can you say expensive. I advised him to find a locally owned print shop or go online where in either case the prices would be significantly less than Office Depot or Staples.

In the situation of a company doing thousands of color copies and prints per month I would recommend considering a color copier.

It comes down to doing the math. How many color prints and copies do you do per year times what you pay per copy/print at a local print shop versus what you would pay to do them in house on your own color copier.

Once you know these numbers you have to consider the added cost of a color copier versus a black copier. Your purchase price or lease payment will surely be higher for a color copier than a standard black copier but in many cases it’s worth it.

Another consideration is the time involved in calling a printer, driving there to drop off artwork if necessary and then driving back to the printer to pick up the job. As we all know during the business day Monday-Friday our time is money and I feel this is a legitimate consideration when deciding to buy a color copier or a black copier.

When it comes to local printers I have seen color copies/prints done in the range of 15 to 35 cents each. This is just my experience and your local printer may do them for less.

With a Toshiba copier (which is the brand I sell) you can make a color copy or print for anywhere from 5-10 cents each. Where you would fall in this range depends on what size color copier we are speaking of.

I hope this helps. Please contact me with any copier/printer related questions or to get a competitive quote. I’m always happy to help. You can call me, email me. Ed Worthington- Action Business System Toshiba- 443-570-0414 eworthington@abscare.com

If you are in the market for a new copier send me an email or call me and I’ll send you a free copy of my copier buyers guide title simply, Ed Worthington’s Copier Buying Guide. Ed Worthington- Action Business Systems- 443-570-0414 eworthington@abscare.com